The Roanoker January/February 2022 - 30

40 UNDER 40
London Ray-Dykstra, 35
Owner, Hustle/Haven
" We are at an exciting, pivotal
moment to show off this area
and what it has to offer.
Even more importantly, to
determine what Roanoke can
be in the coming years. I think
we need to seize the moment
and help it rise to its full
potential. "
After seeing the need for a studio
that avoided " gym culture, " lifelong
fitness enthusiast London RayDykstra
launched Hustle/Haven, a
community health center and fitness
studio featuring hot yoga and indoor
cycling. In addition to the classes
and potions bar, Ray-Dykstra hosts
community events, such as her happy
hour " Can We Talk " to create safespace
discussions on female, mental,
holistic and community health, as
well as prenatal care, social justice
events and more. She is the chair
of the 110 Society at the Taubman
Museum of Art; a volunteer with
the Junior League; a member of
the Roanoke Valley Garden Club;
and has planned fundraisers for
several organizations, including
Planned Parenthood, Feeding
Southwest Virginia and more. " We
need more people willing to take
a risk and bring their dreams to
life in this community, " she says.
" Small businesses are the vibrancy
of towns and cities. They're what give
a place personality and soul. If you
see a need or are solving a problem,
your community will gladly support
you and will be grateful that you're
adding something cool to their
'home.' "
* The Roanoker Magazine Best
of Roanoke Wins: Platinum,
Place You Most Look Forward
to Visiting, 2020; Platinum,
Best Thing to Happen in
Roanoke, 2020; Silver, Best
Yoga/Pilates Instructor,
2020; Silver, Most Savvy
Entrepreneur, 2020
Brett Roden, 26
Producing Artistic Director,
Virginia Children's Theatre
" Roanoke is thriving! The
arts are thriving! The local
businesses are thriving! It is
a great place to settle down,
create a family and enjoy
the small city charm, while
being surrounded by the most
beautiful mountains! "
Earning his undergraduate degree in
Musical Theatre Arts from the Crane
School of Music at SUNY Postdam
through the Student Initiated
Interdepartmental Major, Brett
Roden came to Roanoke in 2017 to
work as the Director of Education for
Virginia Children's Theatre (VCT). He
quickly rose up the ladder, becoming
assistant artistic director in 2018 and
producing artistic director in 2019.
He has performed in mainstage
productions and served as music
director, vocal coach and teaching
artist for the Tony Award-Winning
Barrington Stage Company. His shows
and classes have been performed at
numerous Roanoke venues, such as
the Jefferson Center and Elmwood
Park, and he has created a strong
partnership with VCT and the Patrick
Henry Community College Patriot
Players. He is a soloist and section
leader at Greene Memorial UMC, a
singer in Voices of Appalachia Choir,
Spring Musical Director at North
Cross School and has experience as a
music director at Roanoke City Public
Schools. " My passion is educating our
next generation of leaders (young
people) to be their best selves " Roden
says. " It is our job as educators to
challenge our young people and
provide them with the tools for
success! "
* 1st place winner, Musical
Theater Division, Classical
Singer Magazine regional
competition, 2015
Daniel Sapp, 35
Emergency Physician, Medical Director,
Assistant Emergency Medicine Residency
Program Director, LewisGale Medical Center
" While the beautiful geography
and outdoor activities are
worth mentioning, it is the
people that make Roanoke
a community we hope to
never leave. Everyone is a
neighbor, with the kindness
and generosity of others almost
palpable. "
Dr. Daniel Sapp earned his Doctor of
Medicine degree from West Virginia
School of Osteopathic Medicine in
2015. Graduating from his residency
just two years ago, Sapp quickly
took on leadership roles, becoming
an attending emergency medicine
physician, assistant emergency
medicine residency program director,
director for LewisGale's Stroke
Program and medical director for
LewisGale's paramedic program. He
is currently working on a program
at LewisGale to engage the local
community in addressing substance
abuse and opioid addiction and the
lapses in medical care and resources
evident in those populations. Sapp
is also a Salem youth sports coach,
volunteers to hold medical lectures
and presentations and is also a
father to four children. " I hope that
offering patients and their families
compassion and empathy brings us
further together as a community, "
he says. " Regardless of reason, it is
an honor to care for our neighbors
on their worst day, a humbling
experience. As an educator of future
physicians, I am hopeful my passion
for our community is contagious and,
perhaps, be a factor in recruiting
more doctors to our region. "
* Earned Bachelor of Science
in Biology, James Madison
University, 2008
Leanna Scachetti, 28
Digital Anchor/Multi-Media Journalist,
Podcast Host, WDBJ7
" Nothing feels better than a
glass of local wine or beer after
a beautiful Roanoke hike! The
history is rich. The people are
kind. The nature is stunning.
I am who I am today because
Roanoke and WDBJ7 let me
be exactly who I want to be. "
As WDBJ7's first digital news anchor,
Leanna Scachetti reports breaking
news live on multiple platforms
simultaneously including on air,
live streamed online, social media
platforms and streaming services. Her
podcast " Hometown Stories " earned
a National Edward R. Murrow Award,
2021, and she won an Emmy and a
Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters
award for her work covering the
aftermath of Hurricane Michael
in Florida and its connections to
Southwest Virginia in 2019. Scachetti
spearheaded weekend work sessions
for coworkers to share ideas, skills
and tips and annually organizes the
newsroom effort to help a family
through the Salvation Army's angel
tree program. " I've seen some of
Roanoke's best and worst days up
close. I no longer relate to areas by
zip codes, but by the people who call
it home. This challenges me to be a
better reporter than I was yesterday.
Delivering answers and telling stories
in a high-quality format is important
to me because you are my friends
and neighbors, " she says. " Covering
the rough days in Roanoke then
propels me to put some good back
in whenever I am able. And I love
organizing a group effort for good,
using the energies and unique
passions of the cohort around me
for the benefit of our community.
Together we can achieve anything! "
* Earned Bachelor of
Telecommunication News
with a minor in Spanish,
University of Florida, 2015
30 JAN/FEB 2022
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF LONDON RAY-DYKSTRA / COURTESY OF BRETT RODEN / COURTESY OF DANIEL SAPP / COURTESY OF LEANNA SCACHETTI

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The Roanoker January/February 2022

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